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Can GERD/LPRD irritate the soft palette (roof) of the mouth?

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Posted 2/9/2007 9:32 PM (GMT 0)
Hello folks I'm new here. I'm 26 years old and a sufferer or GERD/LPRD. I used to be nearly 400lbs. and I have lost down to 275lbs. on my 6'3" frame. The funny thing is that I didn't seem to have any reflux problems until after I lost my weight. It was done gradually and the correct way over a span of 3 years. I had to be hospitalized for a day about a year ago due to esophegeal spasms due in part to severe acid reflux. I was put on PROTONIX samples but since I didn't have insurance to cover it, I had to go a few months without any meds. I had been an occasional drinker and tobacco user but I have since tried to kick it, I've been free the past 3 months. I only drank on the weekends and it was moderate. I used to smoke about a half a pack a day at most, then I quit that and picked up the nasty habit of dipping, normally a can of that would last me 2-3 days. This has been over a span of about 4 years so I hope I haven't done too much damage to myself.

I'm a singer as well, and acid reflux/GERD is the worst enemy a singer can ever have. It has really affected my pitch. My throat has been itchy for about 5 months now too. I finally have insurance and now I'm back on PROTONIX. I've been back on it for about 2 months now and I feel that it has helped me some because my throat is feeling a little better, but it still feel lumpy. There seems to be irritation on my soft palette (roof) of my mouth which I think is from the acid refluxing all the way up there. Could that be what's causing it? My doctor checked me out and said it looked alright, but it's like I can feel the irritation with my tongue. I have been having a lot of hypochondriac fears of cancer because of my short past with alcohol and tobacco.

I'm still burping quite a bit even on the Protonix, and my throat still feels funny, not as sore as once before but I still feel like it isn't reducing the acid like it should. I have talked to a lot of people that said PROTONIX didn't help them any, but once they switched to Nexium they started feeling a lot better. So I'll be switching meds soon to give it a try, I hope that will make me get on the road to recovery. Thanks for and advice you can offer to me. Take care and God bless.
Posted 2/10/2007 8:59 AM (GMT 0)
Country Dan, as a life long singer I can relate. I had heartburn for 5 years before I even did anthing about it because I didn't know it WAS heartburn, I just shrugged it off and lived with the out of the blue pain until it went away. The reason I acted finally was when I started having a strange "cough" that wouldn't go away. That quickly led to my voice problems, breathing problems, numbness on my right side of my head only, and at it's worst point I also started having ear aches mostly in my right ear but also a little in my left. I took Apple Cider Vinegar which immediatly got my bowels moving again and also stopped my chest pains/heart burn for the most part. I took ACV for the past 2 plus years.

The problem I still had was I couldn't talk normal without "forcing" or "straining" my voice. I was miserable, scared I had cancer just like you, and kept thinking if I just lost weight it would go away. I love to sing and I did not even attempt to sing as I couldn't hit any high pitches( I could mimic the Bee Gees that's how great my voice range was) but I was more like an Elvis sounding normal voice. I honestly had incredible range and no I am not William Hung. lol

I also quit smoking when I had the voice problems two years ago and gained 25 lbs but I also quit soda, chocolate and tried to exercise daily which were all pluses. I also slept on the right side only. Why? Because I always had sharp pains when I slept on the left for some reason so it became a habit and my body for some reason seemed more and more like this was the only side I could sleep on without the sudden jolts of pain I would get out of the blue.

So for two plus years I was suffering and just a little over a month ago, I was totally desperate with a horrible voice, chronic ear aches, numbness on my right side of my head, oh and I would also get these incredible stiff necks where it was actually difficult driving because I couldn't turn my head properly. I was a total mess CountryDan and that's what forced me to here and I saw Danie's post and my life turned around very quickly.

I took Danie's advice and slept on the left side ONLY(As well as tilt my bed) and I also picked up 100 tablets of DGL Licorice for 12 or 13 dollars. I kept a diary at this time and I swear by the 8th day I noticed a change in my voice and my swallong that was postive for a change. Well Dan I have to tell you my voice is almost back to normal. I lived with this for 2 plus years so maybe I damaged something permanantly but I can now sing again. I have not attempted the Bee Gees anymore but I am singing Dean Martin and Elvis again and a little Sinatra.

This is my story and I attribute the DGL and the sleeping on the left side only as what improved my life again. I hope this helps. I would recommend you give it a try. I bought a second bottle and I am barely using them anymore. I used alot of them initially just like Danie said to do but honestly I was taking 5 to 6 tablets a day and now just a litle after a month I am now only taking 3 a day tops. (one or two before a meal and one at night before bed)

I do wish you luck CountryDan. I turned it around and I know 100% you and everyone else that gives DGL a chance can as well.

Randy
Posted 2/12/2007 9:22 PM (GMT 0)
RandyDandy, thanks for your generous and very helpful reply. I had an incredible range as well, even being a moderate baritone, but acid reflux has totally hurt what falsetto I had. I went to a health food and supplement store today and bought some DGL along with some Enzymes/Intestinal Flora which was recommended by the owner to help aid in digestion. Should I quit taking the Protonix while taking these I wonder?

I've still got that hypochondriac cancer scare, especially since feeling how raw my throat feels and it feels like there's blisters, but I honestly think that is from the acid getting all the way up in the back of my throat during my sleep, since I have not been sleeping elevated. I haven't abandoned all the no-nos of eating, such as caffeine, chocolate, alcohol, etc. I need to put myself on a total alkaline diet and I really need to put myself on some vocal rest for about 3-4 months I'd say, in order to recover. But it's hard because whenever I'm not at work and I'm awake at home, I grab the guitar, try to sing and write another song.

Thanks again for your advice and information. Take care and God bless you!
Posted 2/13/2007 3:33 AM (GMT 0)
Countrydan,

Follow all the advice that RandyDandy gave you. Definitely give up alot of the bad foods that you are still eating and drinking, think of how great you will feel.

Good that you will start taking the DGL and definitely sleep at least a little elevated (elevate your bed mattress if you can't use a wedge pillow) and sleep ONLY ON YOUR LEFT SIDE (the acid cannot seep up into your esophagus - if you sleep on your right side, it can).

As far as stopping the drug you're taking.....only you can make that decision. All I can tell you is that I stopped prilosec/zantac BUT I was eating totally alkaline and did not drink alcohol, caffeine. It was not easy, I did not feel great right away. It took about one month for me to really see dramatic changes.

Good luck and hope you have great success.
Posted 2/13/2007 3:59 AM (GMT 0)
Glad you bought some DGL today Country Dan. Yeah, I feel your pain when it comes to singing. I am the type where if I hear a song I just have to sing it and it really sucked not being able to do this the past 2 years. You sound like you had similar voice problems as I did so it will be interesting to see how quick the DGL not just helps you but cures you of your chronic voice condition.

One thing though Dan. Don't be a wus and not take them because of the taste. This is what Danie has been talking about and it's DOING WHATEVER IT TAKES to get better. Most people I believe take one or two AND if they don't like the taste they complain and look for an excuse and give up. I've heard people say they can't stand the taste, it gives me a headache etc.  Please don't listen to such hogwash. These little tables WORK!! so take them and continue to take them and soon you will see 100% that your voice will get better. Mine took me 8 days but looking back it might of even been quicker than that but I wasn't 100% certain until day 8. My voice was horrible for so long I guess I couldn't believe I was feeling better. I was actually in denial looking back.

I do not know about Protonix since I've never ever taken a PPI or any prescription drug for this. Perhaps Danie or someone else can tell you. I only ate once a day so I would take 2 DGL before the meal about 20 minutes it says. I guess if people eat 3 or 4 meals a day than take 1 or 2 each time before each meal. I also would take 2 right before bedtime to coat my esophogas while I slept. Remember, use common sense. The whole point in these tablets is to put a thin soothing layer for protection from that acid so if you guzzle a whole bunch of water after the pill it probably will wash away that little protective coating. That's why I drink very little during a meal and why I take two at night.

I am checking my diary and I started taking DGL on Tuesday Jan 9 of this year. It is now Feb 12th and I've had a remarkable turnaround Country Dan in just 5 weeks. I am feeling so good that for the first time since I started taking the DGL, I actually forgot to take 2 before dinner today. I haven't had no more daily chest pains, my bowel movements are now once a day and the biggest news, my voice and swallowing are almost there. I am at 95% I would say. 5 Weeks ago on Jan 9th I almost ran out of hope. Please Country Dan, do let me know how things are going. Tilt that bed, sleep only on the left side, exercise, watch what you eat and try not to eat at night before bed. The enzymes are a good idea as well. I was going to buy some orange peel originally but they were too expensive. I now eat yogurt daily after a meal and that also has helped tremendously.

I could yap on and on. Good luck Dan. I guarantee you the DGL will work for you and you will be singing in no time.

Randy 

Posted 2/13/2007 4:09 AM (GMT 0)
Randy,

You are inspirational!!!!

I guess we really can't tell people to go off their drugs, since they each have to make their own decision about it. 

All I can say is that I did go off the Prilosec/Zantac before starting the DGL and alkaline foods etc. etc.

To me it made sense to do so since I wanted to see if anything I was doing was helping. 

If you still stay on drugs, you really will never know. 

BUT, it still has to be a choice everyone makes on their own.

 

Posted 2/13/2007 4:30 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, I agree Danie. Everyone has to make that choice what to do in regards to drugs and I am not a doctor. I just would like people to try the DGL and just like you, I am a believer in it because it helped me. If they want to keep on hearing the benefits of taking Prilosec for the rest of their lives what can you say to them. I guess Brett Favre takes it so it should be good right. Did people ever wonder why they get these popular guys to do these commercials.
Posted 2/13/2007 4:48 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all the great replies. Believe me, I'm going to do whatever it takes. I knew the DGL wouldn't taste like candy anyhow, but I will continue to take it as long as I get better. Of course the taste leaves something to be desired, but I want to get better, I'll eat anything natural if it will help me out, taste is no importance. My voice is my important instrument and I have totally abused it over the past 3-4 years. I want to get back to the point where my mouth and voice feel comfortable talking and speaking. I just hope the damage isn't irreversible. Thanks again and I'll be sure to keep you guys posted.
Posted 2/14/2007 9:42 PM (GMT 0)
Just like you Dan, my voice is precious. Just like you, the roof of my mouth felt weird. Espeacially the right side. I dunno if it was due to acid reflux, but I thought it had to do with more symptom substition. If you get a chance read Dr. Sarno the mind body presription. Check out riverotter's, wdc's, or my old threads. Hey maybe it won't work for you, but there is always a better way than drugs.
Posted 2/18/2007 6:08 AM (GMT 0)
   

   First of all thanks to all the great information from all the posters here.

  I am not sure if my problem is acid reflux but I believe it is. I perform 5 shows a week here in Orlando Fl., and have for years and years.  I am not a screamer type vocalist but more of a James Taylor,Cat Stevens type singer. I have lost my entire range and have had to cancel all my work for the last month.

  I wasn't sick ,no cold or flu, just woke up one day ,had a bit of a scratchy throat and couldn't go "up"in my range. I can talk perfectly fine so I don't think it is vocal nodes.Even with a cold or flu I could still go up in my range almost to the top, maybe a couple of notes below the top. Now I can't even begin to go up in my range a couple of notes. The minute I try to go up a couple of notes my voice sounds like a 13 year olds voice thats changing! I have lost almost 2 octaves! Voice completely gives out, breaks and starts squeakin! I don't smoke or drink and this is really freaking me out. Like an idiot, I let my medical insurance lapse and can't get to a specialist for 2 more weeks. 3 weeks ago, I elevated the head of my bed, stopped eating 3 hours prior to bed and begun taking OTC Pepcid and been sleeping in a humidified room. I guess my question is this:  If indeed my voice has been damaged by acid reflux, How long will it be before it regains it's former self? I have hardly any symptons of GERD, other than a sour taste in my mouth occasionally. Any help from anyone with a similar problem would be appreciated!!

                              Thanks, Out of work in Orlando!

Posted 2/18/2007 7:04 AM (GMT 0)

ProSinger, I am not going to go into everything again in detail but I had very similar problems as you regarding not hitting high ranges. In fact I never attempted to sing in two years because my voice and throat hurt so much. Please read my story above and I recommend the DGL and you sleeping only on the left side when going to sleep. My voice started to get better by day 8 of doing the above two things. DGL is just a round tablet that disolves in your mouth and you suck on it like a lozenge.

 Whatever it does, it appears to have healing properties. Costs about 13.00 for 100 tablets and I am sure it's available at any health store. I was just like you a month ago and I took a chance on what another member (Danie) said to do and thankfully for me it worked and I am much much better now. I now tell people about DGL when I can just like Danie does.

I know if singing is your livelihood that every day you can't sing is another day you don't make any money. If everything else fails give the DGL licorice a try.

Good luck :-)

Randy

Posted 3/26/2008 4:28 PM (GMT 0)
Wow, can't believe I am reading this stuff...

I won't repeat all my symptoms as most of them are identical to a lot of yours - really weird voice problems, going extra low (almost a "cloudy" sound if that makes sense!) making it embarrassing to speak in public as I never know which voice might come out :)

Not ideal as a lot of my work involves teleconferences and meeting senior management. Sometimes, in fact often, I won't say something in a meeting because I'm so paranoid about my voice.

Like a few of you I also have a history of smoking (not for a few years though) and probably drink more than average, so with the voice problems I've been really paranoid about cancer despite having had several examinations from doctors, with all of them saying my throat is fine.

Also similar to some of you, I've had the problems for so long - at least two years - that I am worried about what permanant damage I may have caused, particularly through constant throat clearing, coughing, even making Tourettes style noises to see whether my voice is "ok" or if it's in a "breaky" period.

Anyway, to cut a long story short, I finally came across someone writing about the benefits of chewable DGL.

Bought some today - around £7.50 for the packet - bought them after lunch though so too late to take "pre-food", but ate one anyway.

Haven't had any problems or felt the need to clear my throat since.

My throat is still a bit sore - as it would be after being irritated for SO long. But I'm really optimistic, maybe the word is desperate, that my problems might finally be at an end!

Anyway as I say, literally I am about 2 hours into this "treatment".

I'll post back as the days go on and let you all know how it goes :)
Posted 3/26/2008 4:30 PM (GMT 0)
Also. the thing that made me think my problems could be reflux related was that they seem to be particularly bad after eating or drinking.

Fingers crossed it's almost over!
Posted 5/10/2012 6:36 PM (GMT 0)
I need to chime in here... I just registered.

My name is Chris, and I hope you guys' advice is helpful. Really quick, here's the background of me-

I am a music teacher (past 7 years or so). Before that, just worked crappy jobs. Always been able to sing very well... strongly... I have a nice tenor voice (well, had)... more background:

In 2008, I was talking too much and had a flu and talked all through it, doing lessons. So I really messed up my voice. I got a lesion on my vocal cord. Luckily, it could be surgically fixed. My ENT did the surgery, and she did a wonderful job. Ok. So the voice was fine after that.

Early 2011, I got hit with a nasty flu again (felt particularly damaging to my throat-- it was like a mega sore throat and super high fever)... anyway, I felt better in 2-3 days, but kept doing lessons and talking through my healing.

Fast forward to right now (May 2012). I have not been able to sing falsetto or sing in head voice (quietly, and higher ranges, such as the notes right above middle C on piano... so, C4, D4, E4, F4, G4 (my breaking point into falsetto), A4, etc.

Before early 2011, and even after my surgery, I could hit these notes, quietly and beautifully. I'm really into indie and folk music, like Nick Drake and Bon Iver, Band of Horses, you name it. Just good, higher and gentle male tenor voices... Coldplay, too.

So anyway (I'm sorry this is so long but hopefully you guys can help)....

I did see my same ENT in spring 2011... she put the camera down my throat and I realized I had a bit of reflux going on (so she said). Had swelling (edema) on one of t he vocal cords. She said to talk a lot less (hard when you're a music teacher), and get on Prilosec and Zantac (Z before bed, P before breakfast). So I did. I didn't notice ANY improvement whatsoever being on these medicines.

So I stopped taking them. I got a good amount of walking/jogging exercise last summer and miraculously, I was able to sing for about a week. I did a YouTube cover song... I'll link to it if anyone is interested.

But since then (this was basically in October)... I have still not been able to sing like I normally can.

So.. I found this thread earlier this week, and did EVERYTHING you guys suggested....
1. Sleep on my left side (I always sleep on right but not anymore)
2. Tilt the bed up 5 inches (I put some blocks under the head side... Good amount of tilt but some people suggest more
3. I bought DGL Licorice pills from Amazon (about to start them today when they come in the mail)
4. Got on Prilosec and Zantac again... just for a few weeks.
5. I don't eat 2 hours before bed

I have not noticed any improvement with my voice yet... I could sing a decent amount on Monday, but that's it... not strongly, but definitely higher than normal.

I must also let you guys know that I just turned 36... I am in very good shape in general, and I have been vegan for about a month. I eat VERY well, even though I don't exercise much. I drink almond milk or soy milk, lots of water (especially during my lessons), lots of veggies, vegan chicken patties, fruits, and granola bars. I get plenty of protein, and plenty of nutrients in my diet.

As far as I know, I do not have any food allergies (never have).

Am I doing everything right? Is there something else I should be doing?

I would gladly also record myself singing along to piano notes, so I can show you guys how my voice breaks and gets all airy once I hit D right next to middle C... on most days. Some, I have a good range... but nothing like I had before that early 2011 flu.

I honestly don't think my ENT knows what she's talking about half the time. I always feel rushed seeing her. "Take prilosec. Talk less."

I need to see a good ENT that works directly with a vocal/singing therapist or something (there's a guy in Philly who is very respected and works with singers and teachers).

Please help, thank you so much for your support! :)

-Chris
Posted 5/10/2012 6:54 PM (GMT 0)
Do you eat a lot of carbs? My doctor has told me that carbs require more acid to be digested so your stomach will produce more acid to break it down. You may also want to look into distilled processed aloe vera juice(I use George's) and manuka honey.
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